Ashlee Difuntorum’s recent Forbes article, “How Taylor Swift’s Masters Battle Led Olivia Rodrigo to ‘Practical Magic 2,’” examines how Taylor Swift’s highly publicized fight over her master recordings helped influence Olivia Rodrigo’s approach to music ownership and ultimately played a role in her ability to feature her music in Practical Magic 2.
In her article, Ashlee explores the significance of Rodrigo negotiating ownership of her master recordings when she signed her first record deal. Inspired in part by Swift’s experience and infamous battle with Scooter Braun, Rodrigo secured control over her recordings, allowing her to make decisions about how her music could be used as her career developed.
Ashlee explains the distinction between master recordings and the underlying musical compositions, noting that ownership of a master can give artists greater control over the actual recordings used in film, television, advertising and other media. That distinction became particularly relevant when Rodrigo chose to put her song “The Cure” in Practical Magic 2.
The article also examines how Swift’s battle over her masters helped bring greater attention to the contractual and business considerations artists face when signing record deals. “Swift understood that making her battle public was itself a form of power,” Ashlee writes. “The artists who were paying attention are now exercising the rights she helped them see.”
